THE CHILDREN BILL
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] Sur,—I observe with some misgiving, that, like the Editors of other journals, you have little but praise for the Children Bill. Is not a word of warning necessary ? I speak as a magistrate of ten years' experience. I fear we are in danger of becoming too squeamish, too sentimental in our judgements; that we are losing all sense of proportion. What is wrong with the young people of to-day ? Is it not that they have no regard for discipline ? That they fail to exercise the smallest degree of self-control ? " It is a first offence ; we shall only be bound over," is a remark that expresses the usual attitude. They and their apologists forget, that the first downward step baring been taken, it is so much easier to take the second. Again, I ask you, sir, if you realize that, in these days of the cinema, our boys and girls are at least three years older for their age than the boys and girls of a past generation ? Certainly, we must exercise forbearance and judge with charity. But kindly discipline and wise severity are sorely needed to-day.— I am, Sir, &c.,
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